Filing cabinet



M r 1 i9 a ch 27 B. G. RAND FILING CABINET Filed March 19. 1924 day y 9 March 1 192'? B. e. RAND FILING CABINET 7 Filed March 19. 9 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES BENJAMIN G. BAND, 0]? NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK.

FILING CABINET.

Application fiIed March 19, 1924. Serial No. 700,250.

This invention relates to an index file or cabinet for signature cards, account cards, and other index matter.

Its chief object is to provide a simple and efiicient cabinet of this character constructed of a plurality of independent units or sections which may be added to from time to time to suit the needs of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for effectually interlocking the sections of the cabinet against displacement relative to one another.

A still further object is to provide a cabinet of this kind which enables the trays or panels containing the index matter to be withdrawn from the cabinet to assume an inclined or pendent position convenient for inspection or posting and in which the connections between the trays and their COTH'. panion supporting sections are such as to permit the complete detachment or removal of the trays, when desired.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a. perspective View of the improved cabinet, showing one of the trays or panels withdrawn and supported therefrom in a pendent position. Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof, on an enlarged scale. Figure 3 is a cross section on line 33, Fig. 2. Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of one of the cabinet sections and its tray, the latter being shown in a pendent position. Figure5 is a perspective view of the top section of the cabinet, the cover plate being partially broken away. Figure 6 is a similar view of one of the intermediate tray sections. Figure 7 is a similar view of the bottom section. Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the detachable locking devices or springs.

or top section. 11, and a series of intermediate sections 12 having trays or drawers 13 for' substantially inverted box-like form, its de pending side and end walls terminating in inwardly and upwardly-bent marginal rims or flanges 14 which not only make for a rigid structure but also form a channel 15. For the purpose of reinforcing the top wall of this section, Z-shaped braces 16 may be used which rest at their lower ends upon the edges ofthe flanges 14 while their upper ends may be welded or otherwise fastened to the underside of said top wall, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. a V V The top sectionll is of substantially boxlike form, its upwardly extending side and end walls terminating in inwardly and clown- Wardly-bent marginal rims or flanges 17 forming a channel 18 similar to-the channel 15 of the bottom section. side of this top section may be closed by a removablecover-plate 19 which snugly fits in place without the use of fastenings, the same resting on ledges 20 secured to the side walls of said section. As shown in Fig. 2, these ledges are spaced fromthe end walls of v the section, so that by simply depressing on either end of the cover plate, its opposite end is raised-clear of the upper end of the section, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 9., whereby it can be conveniently grasped for removal, when desired.

The intermediate or tray-sections 12, which are arranged between the top and bottom sections, are identical in construction, each consisting of a box-like frame structure closed on all sides except the top and frontsides, the front side being open to permit of the insertion and withdrawal of the respective tray 13 containing the index matter. The top of'each tray-section is left open for the purpose of applying and, removing the locking devices employed for detachably connecting the several sections together, as will herelnaftcr appear. The longitudinal side walls at tray-section are nrmfiiderl The open upper by the trays are guided in their movement lengthwise of said sections. The rear walls of the latter form stops for the trays, insuring a uniform closing of all of them. The front wall of each tray preferably extends upwardly in close proximity to the underside of the adjacent unit-section of the cabinet to render the same substantially dustproof, as well as to afford a maximum protection in case of fire.

The preferred means for necting the several sections into a completely assembled cabinet consist of detachable spring locking devices 23 separably conwhichare constructed to securely fasten one 7 section to an adjoining section and which are arranged in sets, one set serving to unite two of the cabinetsections against both lateral and vertical displacement relative to one another. To this end, each locking device is in the form of a spring wire or rod having an eye or handle 2a at one end and an offset or angularly disposed interlocking projection 25 at its other end, said projection includingsubstantially horizontal hearing portions 26 and a vertical web portion 27 connecting them, as shown in Fig. 8. These locking rods are disposed lengthwise on opposite sides of the cabinet and occupy the spacescre'ated by the flanges 14, 1'? and 21 of the cabinet-sections 10, 11 and'1l2,-respectively, one end of each rod bearing against the horizontal portion of the corre'- sponding fian e while the other end is adapted to interlock with the contiguous portions of adjoining sections. For this purpose, the top wall of the bottomsection 10 is provided adjacent its side walls and near the end walls thereof with vertical openings 28, .while the bottom of the top section 11 and the bottoms of the intermediate sections 12 are provided with similar alining open ings 29 and 30, respectively. The horizontal portions of the flanges 21 formed on the intermediate tray-sections are also provided with openings 31, all of the openings 1n the several sections being in vertical alinement in the assembled position thereof. The offset projection of each locking rod is adapted to interlock with the registering openings of adjoining sections, its web 27 engaging directly with such openings and its horizontal portions 26 bearing against the adjacent portions of said sections on opposite sides of their openings, as shown in Fig. 2. After engaging the rod with a pair of openings, its eye-end 24 is forced downwardly below the edge of the respective flange 1-1, 17 or 21, and then allowed to spring, under its 10, 11 and 12" own tension, into the corresponding channel formed by such flange, the vertical wall of the latter preventing lateral displacement of the rod inwardly of the cabinet. The combined locking and gripping action afforded by the several rods acts to firmly and tightly draw the cabinet sections together into a rigid structure. During the act of assembling or dismembering the tray-sections,

their trays 13 must first be removed in order.

to permit the ready insertion and'removal of the locking: rods 23. y

In the drawings, two locking rods are shown in opposed relation for securing each side of adjoining sections together, but it is to be understood that any number of them may be employed, if desiredb It will be noted also, as shown in Fig. 2, that the lowermost traysection- 1.2 is fastened tothe bottom section 10 by the rods carried by the latter, and that each of the remaining traysections and top section 11- also contain locking rods, thus requiring one set less of these rodsthan there are sections to a given sized cabinet.

If desired, the handles 24 of the lockingrods contained within the top section ofthe cabinet may be bent inwardly beyond" the marginal flanges 17 to facilitate their application and removal.

Each tray 13 is preferably provided in its front wall with a finger-hole 32 to permit its ready withdrawal; By this construction, there are no projections at the front side of the cabinetliable to interfere with the inclinedor pendent position which the trays are permitted to assume upon being withdrawn.

In adding tray-sections from time to time to suit the needs of the user, it is only necessary to remove the top section, apply the additional tray sections in the manner hereto fore described and then replace said top section.

To enable each tray to assume an inclined position with its front edge resting on; thetable or other support on which the cabinet is placed, or to assume the pendent position shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, it is preferably provided at its rear end with a downwardly and forwardly-bent U-shaped lip or flange 33 extending transversely thereof which is adapted to engage a corresponding. roarwardly-bent inclined l-ip or flange 36% formed at thefront end of the traysection, as shown clearly in Fig.- l. Said lips constitute a hinge connection between these parts when they encounter each other, permitting a vertically-swinging movement of the tray on the lip 34 as aful'crum. During this swinging movement of the tray, the top edge of the cabinet-flange 34 contacts with the inner curved face of the companion tray-flange 33. Furthermore, when it is desired to entirely detach or remove a tray lit) from the cabinet to carry the same about for various purposes, it is only necessary to withdraw such tray, allow it to swing tothe pendent position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and then lift it in a substantially vertical line, which movement will cause the trayflange 33 to become disconnected from the flange as of the tray-section. Obviously, the insertion of each tray in the cabinet is acc-omplished by areversal of these operations.

This improved sectional cabinet is manifestly simple in construction, its sections are capable of ready assemblage and dismemberment by the user, and the same can be manufactured at a moderate cost.

I claim as my invention:

1. A filing cabinet of the character described, comprising a plurality of separable sections arranged in a vertical row, the side walls of the sections having inturned flanges, and detachable locking devices disposed lengthwise of the sections and occupying the spaces formed between the side walls thereof and their flanges, one end of each of said devices interlocking with the contiguous portions of adjoining sections, while the other end thereof engages under the flange of one of the sections.

2. A filing cabinet of the character described, comprising a plurality of separable sections arranged in a ver ical row, the contiguous faces of said sections being provided with alining openings, and spring locking devices applied to said sections, one end of each of said devices interlocking with the alining openings of its companion section and an adjoining section, while its other end engages an opposing part of said companion section.

3. A filing cabinet of the character de scribed, comprising a plurality of separable sections arranged in a vertical row, the contiguous faces of said sections being provided with alining openings, and spring locking devices removably applied to said sections, one end of each locking device having an offset projection arranged to interlock with the alining openings of its companion section and an adjoining section, while its other end bears against an opposing part of said companion section. I

4. A filing cabinet of the character described, comprising a plurality of separable sections arranged in a vertical row, the contiguous faces of said sections being provided with alnnng opemngs, and sprlng locking devlces removably applled to said sections,

each locking device consisting of a rod having an offset projection at one end, said projection including substantially horizontal portions connected by a Web portion, the latter engaging the alining openings of its companion section and an adjoining section and said horizontal portions bearing against the adjacent portions of such sections, the other end of said rod bearing against an opposing part of said companion section.

5. A sectional filing cabinet, comprising a base section, a top section and an intermediate tray-section, the underside of said base section and the upper sides of said top and tray sections being open and'provided with inturned marginal flanges, the top of said base section, the bottoms of said top and tray sections and the marginal flange of said tray-section having alining openings, and spring rods for detachably locking the several sections together as a unit, said rods hearing at one end against the flanges of said base and top sections while the opposite ends of said rods interlock with the openings in the contiguous portions of said last-named sections and said tray-section.

6. A sectional filing cabinet, comprising a plurality of sections arranged in a vertical row and having trays slidable therein, the side walls of said sections terminating at their upper ends in inturned flanges forming longitudinal guides for the trays, and spring locking devices occupying the spaces between the side walls of the sections and their trays, one end of each of said devices interlocking with the contiguous portions of adjoining sections, while the other end thereof engages under the flange of one of the sections.

7. A sectional filing cabinet, comprising a plurality of sections arranged in a vertical row and having trays slidable therein, the side walls of said sections terminating at their upper ends in inturned flanges forming longitudinal guides for the trays, the contiguous portions of said sections having alining openings near their front and. rear ends, and oppositely-facing spring locking rods applied to said sections and occupying the spaces between the sidewalls of the sec tions. and their trays, one end of each looking rod having an offset projection interlocking with the alining openings of adjoining sections, while the other end thereof engages under the flange of one of said sections.

BENJAMIN e. RAND.

lit) 

